She cut her hair, seized the helm, and rewrote history on the high seas Grace O’Malley, known in Gaelic as Gráinne Mhaol, was no ordinary woman. Born in 1530 on Ireland’s rugged west coast, she refused to accept the limits placed on her gender and her people. Instead, she became a leader of ships, soldiers, and clans during one of the most turbulent chapters in Irish history. This definitive biography traces her journey from a chieftain’s daughter in Clew Bay to the feared and respected Pirate Queen of Ireland. Along the way, readers will uncover: The O’Malley clan’s seafaring dominance and Grace’s early defiance of tradition. - Her marriages, alliances, and ruthless feuds that expanded her influence. - Raids, trade networks, and her bold tribute system that made her a maritime power. - Imprisonments, betrayals, and survival under the growing shadow of the Tudor conquest. - The legendary meeting with Queen Elizabeth I, where Grace demanded justice face-to-face with the English monarch. - The myths, songs, and folklore that transformed her from feared leader into enduring legend. Grace O’Malley’s life answers questions still asked today: Who was the Pirate Queen who avenged her husband? How did she get the name Gráinne Mhaol? Was the Pirate Queen based on a true story? This book separates myth from fact while showing why her story remains so powerful. Perfect for readers of Irish history, Tudor biographies, women’s history, and maritime adventure, this biography reclaims the real Grace O’Malley: a rebel, a strategist, and a survivor. Step aboard and discover the untold story of Ireland’s Pirate Queen — a life of defiance, resilience, and leadership that still inspires today. Order your copy now and sail into her extraordinary world.